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It is almost a year to the day since Adnan Januzajtweeted 'Rumours', accompanied by a crying with laughter emoji. He had been linked with Sunderland but the next day scored the winner at Aston Villa. Weeks later, Januzaj was off to Borussia Dortmund for a forgettable four-month loan that was cut short early and went on to make just three cameo appearances for United in five months.

Januzaj, once compared to Johan Cruyff by David Moyes, is due to move to the relegation fodder of Sunderland when once United fans fretted they would remember him as wistfully as Paul Pogba.

Januzaj is said to be feeling 'humiliated' over his treatment by Jose Mourinho, who decisively settled on a 26-man squad that did not include the Belgian, as well as Bastian Schweinsteiger, among others. Losing the No.11 shirt to Anthony Martial prepared Januzaj for the disappointing news he received two weeks ago.

'Surly' was the word once used to describe Januzaj to the M.E.N. when there was the possibility of interviewing him. His attitude has become a problem since he shone as United's outstanding outfield player in 2013-14, a player targeted by opponents and described by former United captain Steve Bruce as a 'superstar'. Bruce did add a caveat, though: "If he keeps his feet on the ground."

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In one of last season's United We Stand issues, there was a frothy tidbit about United players' fondness for Selfridges' spas and facials. A girl who works at the department store was quoted as saying: "Most of the players are very nice, but Adnan Januzaj thought he was the business." Those feet came off the ground.

When an 18-year-old Januzaj made his Premier League bow with that vibrant scene-stealer against Crystal Palace in September 2013, parallels were quickly drawn with Pogba. Januzaj was out of contract at the end of the campaign and the talent was obvious as he left Palace players on their backsides.

Januzaj skips past Gabbidon on his league debut

The next week, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher queried his absence from the squad for the 4-1 hammering at City. Januzaj re-emerged six days later to enliven a late onslaught in the home defeat to West Brom and then on his full debut a week later he netted that brilliant brace at Sunderland. His name shot up Google trends, while newspapers speculated over the possibility of him playing for England. On October 18, Januzaj committed his future to United.

Now it is Pogba who is staying and Januzaj who is going. United are believed to be reluctant to sell Januzaj permanently, wary of how Pogba made a mockery of their half-hearted attempt to keep him. United tried to sign Pogba in three of the last four summer transfer windows, with all three of Sir Alex Ferguson's permanent successors eager to return him to the club.

One's staying and one's going

It seemed apparent to everyone bar Ferguson, his vision obscured by a midfield blind spot, that Pogba would develop into an eminent footballer. With Januzaj, it does not seem as certain. Pogba's attitude was not questionable at United and he moved to the Italian champions, whereas Januzaj's attitude waned once his status was recognised by the club, who gifted him Ryan Giggs's squad number two years ago. Januzaj became so comfortable he was videoing United's dressing room celebrations after the FA Cup final in May, while other members overlooked for the matchday squad watched on sheepishly.

United's reluctance to jettison Januzaj is understandable. He is an unpredictable winger, adept on the left or the right, capable of effecting games as a starter or a substitute, and his talent dwarfs some of those who are in Mourinho's senior set-up. Should he perform on loan, United would have to reconsider his future, especially since there is still not a fixed starter on the right wing - which is Januzaj's best position.

Januzaj celebrates his Sunderland winner with Evra

Sunderland will be a culture shock, though. At Dortmund, Januzaj was surrounded by Mats Hummels, Marco Reus and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and now he is joining a club annually dragged into the relegation quagmire and who spent £5million on Paddy McNair.

Few would dispute Januzaj is more gifted than Jesse Lingard but fewer would argue Lingard does not deserve to be a prominent figure in Mourinho's plans. Lingard's attitude is so brilliant he was building up muscle mass ahead of his pre-season rendezvous with Mourinho and, while his finishing has often been lacking, his application hasn't.